The instructions below describe how to
assign a tempo change to an expression that can be added to the score
at any time. To easily record, or ‘conduct,’ a unique tempo change for
any region, use TempoTap.
Note. Finale’s Human
Playback feature recognizes text such as “accel.” and applies tempo adjustments
accordingly during playback. See Playback
Settings dialog box for details. To use manually defined tempo or dynamic
markings for playback, set Human Playback to None.
- Click the Expression tool . If you haven’t
yet placed the mark in the score, double-click any place on a staff. When the Expression Selection dialog box
appears, click the desired symbol, click Edit, then skip to step 3.
-
Double-click the expression's handle. The Expression
Designer dialog box appears.
- Click the Playback tab. The playback
options appear.
- Choose Type > Tempo.
- Select Execute Shape, then
click the Select button.
- Click Create, then Shape ID. You’re now in the Shape
Designer.
- Choose Shape Designer > Rulers
and Grid.
- Click Eighth Notes.
- Type 1 into the Grid Lines Every: box, and
click OK.
- Choose Shape Designer > Show > Grid.
Your Shape Designer drawing area now shows a horizontal point for each
eighth-note duration, so that you can specify how long you want the accelerando
to last. Each horizontal gridline represents a one-point increase in tempo
(from 150 to 151 beats per minute, for example).
- Click the Line Tool . Click on the small white circle (the origin)
and drag toward the upper-right. Watch the numbers in the H: and
V: numbers as you drag; stop when H: and V: both say 4.
- Click OK.
You’ve drawn a graph (an Executable Shape)
of the tempo during the accelerando. For each vertical gridline you crossed
as you dragged to the right, the accelerando lasted another eighth note
duration; for each horizontal gridline it crossed, the tempo increased
one metronome point.
Therefore, to make the accelerando last
for one half-note, it should cross four gridlines as you drag to the right.
To make the tempo increase by 20 beats per minute, you might think you’d
have to cross 20 horizontal gridlines on the way up. For now, however,
cross only four, meaning the tempo will only increase by four beats per
minute.
- Click Select to return to the Executable Shape Designer dialog box.
- In the Level Scale boxes, enter "8:1."
You probably wouldn’t even be able to perceive the accelerando if it only
sped up by four points during a half note. By changing the Level Scale,
you’re multiplying the degree of accelerando. If you enter 8:1, the tempo
will change by 32 points—a much more satisfying accelerando. Note that
at this point you could also specify a different Time Scale, which would
determine how long the executable shape will last. When you designed the
shape, it crossed four gridlines (eighth notes)—one half note. Change
the Time Scale to multiply that amount; a Time Scale of 1:2 would make
the accelerando last half as long (a quarter note), and 3:1 would create
one that would last three times as long (six beats).
- Click OK, Select, and Assign to return to the score. Listen to the accelerando and see how it works. If it doesn’t speed up
enough, increase the Level Scale. If it lasts too long, decrease the Time
Scale. (The effect of the accelerando will vary according to the current
tempo.)